EC Family Clinic

04/04/2025

Latest studies indicate that RZV (Recombinant Zoster Vaccine) (*Shingrix®), a non-live vaccine, was able to reduce dementia risk by up to 13% in men and up to 22% in women aged 65 and above when compared to *Zostavax ( a live Zoster vaccine), 6 years post vaccination.

The risk of dementia in those who got a *Shingrix shot was 23% lower than in people who got an influenza vaccination and 28% lower in people who got a tDAP (tetanus, diphtheria and *PERTUSSIS) vaccination.

p/s:
*Shingrix and *Zostavax are vaccines to reduce risk of Shingles infection, also known as Ular or 蛇(Shé). Zostavax vaccine has exited Singapore since December 2024. Only Shingrix is available in Singapore.

*PERTUSSIS bacteria causes 100 days cough. tDAP vaccination reduces 100 day cough infection risk.

A new analysis of a vaccination program in Wales found that the shingles vaccine appeared to lower new dementia diagnoses by 20% — more than any other known intervention.

15/10/2024

Europe & USA in Whooping Cough epidemic as cases soar.

Whooping Cough is also known as the worrisome 100 days cough.
Affects infants, children and elderly.

In Singapore, infants are vaccinated against Whooping Cough under our mandatory childhood vaccination programme which protects them into their childhood.

Elderly are not protected as adult Whooping Cough vaccination are voluntary.

Adult morbidities and comorbidities include:

•Pneumonia leading to hospitalisation (monetary expenditure) & mortality.

•Urinary incontinence for 100 days in women ⩾50 years old (menopaused), & in men & women who are already struggling with incontinence.

•Recurrent asthma attacks over 100 days.

•Sinusitis for 100 days. Runny nose, sneezing, sinus headache day & night.

•Very disturbed sleep for 100 nights.

•Headaches, chest muscles ache and abdominal muscles ache for 100 days.

•Poor work performance for 100 days. Unable to speak or meet customers due to coughing fits lasting 30-60 secs. Having to apply for multiple medical leave.

•Spreading to other members of your family or friends.

If you are suffering from Whooping Cough, antibiotics will help you recover immediately.

Good news:
There is a vaccination to prevent Whooping Cough.
Only 1 dose to protect you for 10 years.
And we have the stock.

The CDC had documented more than 17,600 infections as of Oct. 5—more than four times those recorded at this time last year.

06/04/2024

Glucosamine Sulphate &
Chondritin Sulphate Supplement

Is this combo supplement effective for a worn down (osteoarthritis) knee joint?

In 2008, a landmark study called GAIT (Glucosamine & Chondritin Interventional Trial) concluded that Glucosamine/Chondritin supplements did not decrease pain in patients with mild knee osteoarthritis. Same conclusion with the placebo (fake medicine) group of patients. Which means the supplement is no better than fake medication. 🤦🏻🤦🏻
However in a small group of patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis, the Glucosamine & Chondritin combination relieved pain.

In 2015, another study called MOVES Trial concluded that Glucosamine & Chondritin combination supplements are as effective as Celecoxib (also known as Celebrex, an NSAIDS) to relieve pain and swelling in Osteoarthritis patients.

Latest Update:
In 2023, there was a systemic review of all trials from the beginning to 2023 to assess the effectiveness and safety aspect of Glucosamine. They concluded that knee osteoarthritis patients who took Glucosamine for up to 6 months, showed a decrease in global pain based on VAS scores.

and are very popular supplements and they are advertised to help with joint pain and Are they really helpful? is the ...

19/12/2023

One of my staffs was recently infected in September 2023 and was again infected in December 2023.

Do you know why?
A new Covid Variant, a sublineage of BA 2.86 called JN.1, currently accounts for the vast majority ( the cause of the sudden large spike) of the COVID-19 cases in Singapore. Based on the available international and local data, there is currently no clear indication that BA.2.86 or JN.1 are more transmissible or cause more severe disease than other circulating variants.

The previous outgoing Covid variants were EG5 and EG5.1 (or HK1) , and they were responsible for majority of the cases up until end November 2023.

The updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are aimed at the Omicron XBB1.5 sublineage includes EG5, EG5.1 & BA2.86 (JN1) and are available since end October 2023.

Find speeches, press releases, forum replies and parliamentary Q&A.

10/10/2023

We are in the midst of a new wave of Covid-19 outbreak.
We have been seeing increasing numbers over the last 2 weeks.
Main culprits are EG.5 and HK.3 forming 75% of all infected cases.
We are also watching out at the rate of emergence of a new variant BA.286.

The ministry advise wearing mask in crowded places.
Also remember to sanitize your hands.
All senior citizens are encouraged to keep up to date with their Covid vaccinations.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung urged seniors and the medically vulnerable to take the necessary precautions, including wearing a mask in crowded areas.

14/06/2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against the use of artificial sweeteners to control body weight or reduce the risk of chronic diseases .

Their studies suggest there is no long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children using artificial sugars. But in fact may have potential negative effects from long-term use such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.

Please read the article below for more information.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), which recommends against the use of NSS to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

14/05/2023

Novavax Covid 19 vaccine is now extended to ages 12 to 17 years.

Novavax vaccine is not an updated vaccine as compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty Bivalent vaccine which is also used for ages 12 to 17 years under the National Vaccination Programme.

Novavax vaccine has an efficacy of 79.5% against the Delta variant ( and not against ‘Scrabble’ Omicron variant which is currently leading the Covid 19 infections )

Find speeches, press releases, forum replies and parliamentary Q&A.

14/05/2023

Update:

Severe symptoms from Covid infection more likely in those who took SinoVac vaccine than mRNA vaccine.

Measles Virus by A/Prof David S. Goodsell, RCSB Protein Data Bank; SARS-CoV-2 virus by Ms Alissa Eckert Dan Higgins, MAM/CDC / Science Source; Rhinocladiella mackenziei by Dr Shawn Vasoo, NCID; Plasmodium falciparum by A/Prof Yeo Tsin Wen, LKCM.

14/05/2023

For your information:

HIV self test kits is available to the public since 1st August 2022.
The kits can be purchased from
• Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control clinic
• Action for Aids (AfA) Anonymous Test Site

Measles Virus by A/Prof David S. Goodsell, RCSB Protein Data Bank; SARS-CoV-2 virus by Ms Alissa Eckert Dan Higgins, MAM/CDC / Science Source; Rhinocladiella mackenziei by Dr Shawn Vasoo, NCID; Plasmodium falciparum by A/Prof Yeo Tsin Wen, LKCM.

14/04/2023

Latest 2023 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Vaccine is now available

14/04/2023

If you have senior citizens or babies or pregnant ladies at home, you have the responsibility to mask up and sanitize your hands frequently in public so as to reduce the risk of bringing home the Covid virus to them.

I have been informing many patients who had not had their Bi-Valent boosters to go for it ASAP because now is the time where the “Scrabble Variants” are causing infections.

“Scrabble Variants” are so called because they contain letters like X and Q that get high scores in the Scrabble game.

I had patients who had not had any vaccinations, were infected recently and suffered from high fever, severe bodyaches, severe sorethroat , hoarseness, severe lethargy.

I also had elderly patients who had their Bi-Valent boosters getting infected with mild symptoms such as runny nose, mild cough, mild fever and mild sorethroat, and recovered within 4-5 days.

Vaccination decreases severity of illness.

The estimated number of daily infections rose from about 1,400 a month ago to 4,000 last week. Read more at straitstimes.com.

11/04/2023

Today, I had an elderly patient who consulted me on 2 consecutive weeks suffering from 2 unrelated minor acute ailments.

She was very upset and extremely worried by it.

I tried to reassure her that her ailments were temporary but she couldn’t stop her negative thoughts.

So I brought her to our music therapy corner and played a song in the 1970s era to help her reminisced her youthful health.

To my surprise, a patient in the waiting area (he was waiting for his medicine) took a video of the session.
He WhatsApp the clip to us.

I edited the video to show you what the patient experienced 😅

Our elderly patient left in a happy mood 😄